Breaking down of metals



Patented A a 19323 I ,2

ATENT OFFICE VINCENT L. DICKSON, F ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA BREAKING DOWN 0F METALS No Drawing. Application filed February 27, 1929, Serial No. 343350. Renewed December 1, 1931;

- This invention relates to a process for the breaking down of metallic substances into 7 finely divided form which may consist of the 1 oxides of the metals, of the metals themselves 5 or of any mixture of the two.

Metals and metallic oxides in the finely divided state are valuable in the manufacture p of explosives, gases, smoke clouds, flare lights,

storage batteries and numerous other mate- I rials or articles. I

By my process I am able to break down 7 both noble and the less noble metals.

In the breaking down of lead I use five hundred pounds of pig lead, one pound pitch Q blend, one pound of uranium ground to a powder, and fifty pounds or less of litharge or red lead. I bring the lead to a temperature of from 700 to 900 F. and add the a powder and oxides above mentioned. I then A turn off the heat and in the process of cooling stir either by hand or machinery for a I short time. The resultant product is a powder consisting either of the powdered metals I or their oxides or the like.

5 Other oxides of lead such as reclaimed battery oxides may be used in place of the litharge or the like.

n In the breaking down of iron I use two n parts uranium to one part pitch blend and I 3 suit the temperature ranges thereto.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the proportions and the specific elements except as defined by the appended claim.

I claim: i p I V A process for the comminution of lead a a which consists in adding to the heated lead,

p a small amount of pitch blend and uranium,

then adding lead oxide and stirring the mass while cooling the same.

Intestimony whereof Iatfix my signature.

VINCENT L. DICKSON. 

